I'm with you on that. Get the worst of the dross out of the way (hopefully) and then see how it goes. With each passing year there are fewer and fewer even 'C' listers appearing. Most of this year's appearances were followed by 'Who are they?" from my other half. She just beat me to it each time!
Oh dear GWRS, you mentioned two things (hang on whilst I spit) Normal dancing and American Smooth, normal dancers never heard of the American Smooth until SCD imported it sometime in the later 2000's. Come dancing was on the go when we got our first TV 1954'ish it was Eric Morley who ran the Miss World series and ran every year for years. Names I remember where Peggy Spencer and her sequence dancing groups I believe she was also a judge, in those days they walked around the room not sitting enthroned as they do now. Some presenters and there were many Terry Wogan Angela Ripon Judith Chalmers and a lot I have forgotten. Dancing was Quickstep Foxtrot Waltz, Slow Tango (very sexy) Continental Tango faster more sharp and Rhumba, we also had a mix of what we called old fashioned as in the big dance halls it was always a mix with a few fun dances thrown in, Palais Glide Lambeth Walk and always a couple where you changed partners. Dancing and the Pictures was about it apart from sport where it was always during the day no lights apart from candles (kidding).
Just watched a video of my Granddaughter 6 dancing for her medal yesterday it was the cha cha and she has it down pat, they all do Ballroom now even Grandson of 16 as I did from a young age, it gave you confidence and poise and thank goodness it is becoming popular with the folk around here, the dance clubs are full, it actually never died out, my late wife Joan and I danced every weekend, one way of keeping fit.
I've just read that Craig reckons there will be same sex couples on the show by next year. My immediate thought was imagine the screams about prejudice if that couple was absolute rubbish and was voted off in the first week!
American Smooth was born out of the musical films with Fred Astaire and Ginger doing lifts and tricks in their routines which were otherwise based on ballroom dances.. Ballroom rules don't allow for lifts and tricks. Argentine tango does and so does the Charleston and dances like the jitterbug.
I would really like to see some modern sequence dances but am not keen on the old style stuff. Formation dancing is pretty spectacular to watch and very different in terms of energy and choreography.
I've seen same sex couples competing in Belgium - only men so far - and it's interesting.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Obelixx, Peggy Spencers Formation Dancers who danced on the early TV shows were indeed spectacular though it was said she drilled them like a Sergeant Major, their dress was immaculate too.
My Mother and Father were prize winning dancers in the old fashioned before the war which is what I saw and did as a young sprog, Mother could do a wicked Black Bottom that used to curl me up laughing. In those days we would do a quickstep or foxtrot in-between and I loved that so went to the best Dancing School in Town Cockran's to learn, Ruby and Flory would teach me the Latin although much to my embarrassment Dave would show me some steps then we would dance, your can get used to everything in the end. He was a Modern champion and Ruby Latin.
From the time I started dancing there was always a shortage of men who could dance so those who could never sat down and many of the women danced together, we thought nothing of it, if men wanted to dance now I would consider it their own business.
Dance Halls then were always packed out in our small Town we had three large halls with live bands and in the village a Co-op Hall with live band which is where I started. At sixteen the Streatham Locarno looked huge until I went to the Hammersmith Palais, that was spectacular and though the two largest halls in Blackpool were great nothing beat the Hammersmith.
Wonderful days Obelixx with so many memories, the dancing changed until most of the large halls closed but there was an underground movement in working mens clubs Sergeants Mess and Works do's it never really died, real dancing I mean and we danced until Joan became too ill and loved every moment of it.
Frank (not you!) and Peggy Spencer lived down my road when I was growing up, and their dance school was round the corner. Even now, if I walk past the house, I think "That''s where Frank & Peggy Spencer live" even though of course it's been a very long time since that was true.
Like Obelixx, my main enjoyment of Strictly is in the novices putting in the effort and learning to dance. The show IS way too hyped, I hate the 'funny videos' which aren't funny and waste loads of time, but I just let all that wash over me and enjoy watching their progress. I've probably heard of about half of the slebs this time. Delighted to see Richard Coles as I've liked him since The Communards (don't think he'll last long, however) and I hope Susan Calman lasts long enough to learn to dance as I do believe that's what she really wants.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Posts
I agree with GWRS, Frank
I agree too, Frank, we do want your input on here.
As I posted earlier, I hoped you would peek in and post. I always looked forward to your opinion and knowledge of dancing.
So Frank.................Keep posting! ???
I'm with you on that. Get the worst of the dross out of the way (hopefully) and then see how it goes. With each passing year there are fewer and fewer even 'C' listers appearing. Most of this year's appearances were followed by 'Who are they?" from my other half. She just beat me to it each time!
Oh dear GWRS, you mentioned two things (hang on whilst I spit) Normal dancing and American Smooth, normal dancers never heard of the American Smooth until SCD imported it sometime in the later 2000's. Come dancing was on the go when we got our first TV 1954'ish it was Eric Morley who ran the Miss World series and ran every year for years. Names I remember where Peggy Spencer and her sequence dancing groups I believe she was also a judge, in those days they walked around the room not sitting enthroned as they do now. Some presenters and there were many Terry Wogan Angela Ripon Judith Chalmers and a lot I have forgotten. Dancing was Quickstep Foxtrot Waltz, Slow Tango (very sexy) Continental Tango faster more sharp and Rhumba, we also had a mix of what we called old fashioned as in the big dance halls it was always a mix with a few fun dances thrown in, Palais Glide Lambeth Walk and always a couple where you changed partners. Dancing and the Pictures was about it apart from sport where it was always during the day no lights apart from candles (kidding).
Just watched a video of my Granddaughter 6 dancing for her medal yesterday it was the cha cha and she has it down pat, they all do Ballroom now even Grandson of 16 as I did from a young age, it gave you confidence and poise and thank goodness it is becoming popular with the folk around here, the dance clubs are full, it actually never died out, my late wife Joan and I danced every weekend, one way of keeping fit.
Frank.
Hello Frank , there we are I thought the American Smooth was a normal dance , shows my lack of knowledge
Best wishes
Frank, I remember Peggy Spencer and the sequence groups.......which we referred to as the 'sequins' groups.
I've just read that Craig reckons there will be same sex couples on the show by next year. My immediate thought was imagine the screams about prejudice if that couple was absolute rubbish and was voted off in the first week!
American Smooth was born out of the musical films with Fred Astaire and Ginger doing lifts and tricks in their routines which were otherwise based on ballroom dances.. Ballroom rules don't allow for lifts and tricks. Argentine tango does and so does the Charleston and dances like the jitterbug.
I would really like to see some modern sequence dances but am not keen on the old style stuff. Formation dancing is pretty spectacular to watch and very different in terms of energy and choreography.
I've seen same sex couples competing in Belgium - only men so far - and it's interesting.
Obelixx, Peggy Spencers Formation Dancers who danced on the early TV shows were indeed spectacular though it was said she drilled them like a Sergeant Major, their dress was immaculate too.
My Mother and Father were prize winning dancers in the old fashioned before the war which is what I saw and did as a young sprog, Mother could do a wicked Black Bottom that used to curl me up laughing. In those days we would do a quickstep or foxtrot in-between and I loved that so went to the best Dancing School in Town Cockran's to learn, Ruby and Flory would teach me the Latin although much to my embarrassment Dave would show me some steps then we would dance, your can get used to everything in the end. He was a Modern champion and Ruby Latin.
From the time I started dancing there was always a shortage of men who could dance so those who could never sat down and many of the women danced together, we thought nothing of it, if men wanted to dance now I would consider it their own business.
Dance Halls then were always packed out in our small Town we had three large halls with live bands and in the village a Co-op Hall with live band which is where I started. At sixteen the Streatham Locarno looked huge until I went to the Hammersmith Palais, that was spectacular and though the two largest halls in Blackpool were great nothing beat the Hammersmith.
Wonderful days Obelixx with so many memories, the dancing changed until most of the large halls closed but there was an underground movement in working mens clubs Sergeants Mess and Works do's it never really died, real dancing I mean and we danced until Joan became too ill and loved every moment of it.
Frank.
Frank (not you!) and Peggy Spencer lived down my road when I was growing up, and their dance school was round the corner. Even now, if I walk past the house, I think "That''s where Frank & Peggy Spencer live" even though of course it's been a very long time since that was true.
Like Obelixx, my main enjoyment of Strictly is in the novices putting in the effort and learning to dance. The show IS way too hyped, I hate the 'funny videos' which aren't funny and waste loads of time, but I just let all that wash over me and enjoy watching their progress. I've probably heard of about half of the slebs this time. Delighted to see Richard Coles as I've liked him since The Communards (don't think he'll last long, however) and I hope Susan Calman lasts long enough to learn to dance as I do believe that's what she really wants.